86 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [April, 



to be weakened by cutting off the supply of food. When, therefore, the appear- 

 ance of the tree indicates an over-abundant formation of fruit buds, and it malies 

 but little growth, we must understand, either that it has received a sufficient check 

 for the time, or else that it is naturally a slow-growing prolific sort — in both of 

 which cases a departure from general rules is necessary. In the former case it 

 only needs to be left alone, without root-pruning of any sort, until a more 

 vigorous habit of growth is resumed ; in the latter case, dressings of a rich com- 

 post of loam and rotten manure must be applied to the surface, and growth must 

 be encouraged in every way. 



There are, however, comparatively few varieties so amenable to treatment as 

 this. The great majority of sorts, and among them some of our most esteemed 

 varieties, are of a vigorous habit of growth, and no amount of pinching-back will, 

 of itself, be sufficient to throw them into a bearing state, so that lifting and 

 replanting must be resorted to. It is true that the processes of shortening the 

 growth from time to time, by depriving the tree of a good portion of its foliage, 

 has apparently the effect of interfering with the action of the roots ; but it does 

 not always lead to the formation of fruit-buds, its tendency being merely to check 

 growth, which is resumed as soon as the roots recover from the check. But 

 lifting the tree completely out of the ground and replanting it, invariably con- 

 duces to the formation of fruit-buds, for the reason before alluded to, namely, 

 that the vitality of the tree being threatened with extinction, it obeys at once 

 the universal law of nature. Here, I may add, that a tree which has been con- 

 stantly and carefully pinched back during the growing season, but whose roots 

 have been left untouched, is not ' nearly so likely to make a fruitful tree as one 

 which has not been pinched back at all, but only carefully lifted and replanted 

 at the proper season, and regulated as to shape by a careful winter pruning. 

 This goes far to prove that the two should go hand in hand ; and that the 

 condition of the tree, as it stands before the operator, is the safest guide as to the 

 mode of treatment most likely to ensure the end in view. 



Now the knowledge which should enable the amateur to distinguish between 

 these various stages and conditions of growth is not intuitive, and can only be 

 acquired by experience ; but he need not despair. A couple of years' close obser- 

 vation will go far to make them plain, and the pursuit of this knowledge is a 

 most interesting and absorbing occupation, as almost every tree has something- 

 peculiar to itself, and although they all come under certain general rules, the 

 application of those rules must be regulated by the condition of the individual trees. 



We come, now, to the consideration of Planting. The ground should all bo 

 prepared and ready for that purpose by the middle of October, which, taking the 

 majority of seasons, is the best time to plant. In early diy seasons it may be 

 done earlier, because the wood will be ripe ; in late wet seasons it ought not to 

 be done later, because the lifting gives the tree just that check which helps to 

 ripen the wood. Now the reason for this being the best season, may be deduced 

 from two facts : the first is, that at that time the earth still retains a large propor- 



